Political culture and social security - A comparison of the United States and Germany

Term Paper , 2007 , 20 Pages , Grade: 1,0

American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

In this paper, it should be examined in which ways the difference in creating a social system by the state can be connected to cultural values which shape the political culture of the respective country. Of course, there are many other components which influence the development of social security in the United States like industrialization or economic growth. In the media one gets the impression that individualism is responsible for the unusual kind – from a German point of view – of social policy in the United States (Murswieck 1988: 8). Also David McKay emphasizes the fact that “nothing more accurately seems to represent Americanism than a stress on individual rather than collective action” (2001: 11). But is individualism the only reason within cultural values for the belated public social policy in the United States?

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Historical Development of Social Policy
  • United States
  • Germany
• Definition of Political Culture
• Dominating Cultural Values
  • Liberal Principles: Individualism, Equality, Freedom and Protection of Property
  • The Cultural Values Religion and Civic Duty
• Social Policy in the United States: Latecomer or Exceptionalist?
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to explore the connection between cultural values and the development of social security systems in the United States and Germany. By examining the historical development of social policy in both countries, the paper seeks to understand how cultural values, such as individualism and civic duty, have shaped their respective approaches to social welfare.

• The historical development of social policy in the United States and Germany
• The influence of cultural values on social policy
• The role of individualism in shaping American social security
• The comparison of the United States as an outlier in social policy compared to Germany
• The relationship between political culture and social security provisions

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: The paper introduces the topic of social policy in the United States and Germany, highlighting the differences in their social security systems and emphasizing the role of cultural values in shaping these differences.
• Historical Development of Social Policy: This section examines the historical development of social policy in both countries, with a focus on the United States. It discusses the emergence of private welfare organizations, the rise of public social policy in the 1930s, and the expansion of social programs in the 1960s. It also highlights the significance of the Social Security Act of 1935 and the "War on Poverty" under President Johnson.
• Definition of Political Culture: This section provides a definition of political culture and its relevance to understanding the development of social policy.
• Dominating Cultural Values: This section explores the key cultural values that shape the political culture of the United States and Germany. It focuses on the principles of individualism, equality, freedom, and protection of property, as well as the values of religion and civic duty.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The paper focuses on the key themes of social policy, political culture, individualism, social security, and welfare state. It examines the historical development of social policy in the United States and Germany, analyzing the influence of cultural values on the creation and evolution of social security systems in both countries.

• College: Martin Luther University
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Dorothee Bührer (Author)
• Publication Year: 2007
• Pages: 20
• Catalog Number: V88208
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638034197
• ISBN (Book): 9783656527138
• Language: English
• Tags: Political, United, States, Germany